Reviews by Every Day Women. For Every Day Women

Guest Blog – Powerful in Their Submission by Lila Dubois

I’ve always been drawn to stories where strong characters, male or female, find that one person with whom they’ll let down their guard and be themselves. Though this statement is pop-psychology at its worst, I do think that many women today hold themselves to such high standards for both professional and personal success it’s almost impossible to let go, even in what should be a safe place—a relationship.

The appeal of BDSM for me has always been the formality and structure that helps the sub let go. I like strong women who submit because they need a safe place to be themselves. And, you know, have ridiculously good sex.

For a long time I’ve wanted to write about some very famous BDSM and kink icons—pin-up girls.

Beautiful, well dressed (if briefly) and both sexually powerful and alluringly submissive, pin-ups are probably some of sexiest icons of the last century.

My favorite of the pin-up girls is Bettie Page, a real life fetish and pin-up model from the 1950s. She’s gorgeous, she’s sexy, and she played both top and bottom.

Bettie Page was the inspiration for the heroine for Undone Rebel. The rebel of Undone Rebel is Addie, a tough woman with an eye for fashion who’s a member of LA’s rockabilly scene. She’s a self-proclaimed Hispanic Bettie Page.

Don’t believe me? That’s her on the cover.

I love this cover. My editor and I actually sent Bettie Page photos to the cover artist so he’d understand what we were talking about.

From Pin-Up to Rockabilly

I’ve had some people ask me what rockabilly is, why the way Addie dresses is so specific. Rockabilly is a genre of music, but it’s the culture that goes along with it that, both in writing and in real life, has me fascinated. The culture of rockabilly includes hot rods, good music, killer hair a specific style of dress modeled after the cutest looks of the 40’s and 50’s particularly pin-up style. If you own or have seen a purse or hair accessory with cherries on, or a polka-dotted dress with a sweat heart neckline you’ve felt the influence of rockabilly.

Here in LA there’s a huge Hispanic rockabilly (and psychobilly, razabilly…) culture, with its own origins in the barrios of southern California that fascinated and delighted me. If you’re interested the movie Rebel Beat tells the story of LA’s Rockabilly culture.

In researching for this book (otherwise known as going to killer concerts and shopping on www.pinupgirlclothing.com) I met and interacted with women who were put together from their shoes to their half-sleeves of tattoos, and who always waited, patiently and graciously, to have the door opened for them. Their personal and sexual self confidence was so present that I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like when a woman like that was pushed to her limit and beyond. Hence the Undone Lovers series was born.

And Back Again to Pin-Up

While Addie is the rebel rockabilly girl, her friend and boss Lulu is a more traditional pin-up girl. Lulu’s personal style and love for the beauty and glamour she sees in retro clothing led her to open her own pin-up clothing store. She’s a well-dressed, good girl.

Why do the good girls always attract the bad, bad boys?

The second book in the series, due out late spring, is the store of Lulu and Master Alton.

29 thoughts on “Guest Blog – Powerful in Their Submission by Lila Dubois”

I would say Audrey Hepburn. I love her. She is elegant and sophisticated. She is oozes sexiness. My hubby is an alpha male so he takes control alot. Except when it comes MY kitchen, he won’t tread in my domain. lol

Great post! 🙂 I think that, regardless of any BDSM elements or influences, a relationship should be the one place where you feel like you can relax. Maybe not completely submit to the other, but at least put control aside for a little while. Personally, I think both people should be able to do this in the relationship.

I’d have to agree with Kaylyn on this one–the only person I could htink of is Audrey Hepburn.

I was unaware of that sub-culture going on in LA. It reminds me of the transvestites in the movie ‘To Wong Foo’ how they idolized Julie Newmar. My icon choice would be Audrey Hepburn and I see I’m in good company with some other ladies. (-;I have trust issues so I cannot imagine myself submitting to another’s control.

Thanks for sharing about this interesting book series and for the giveaway opportunity.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today and sharing your inspirations and story…wow! Ok, my icon is probably way different than a lot of people’s….I’ve always been fascinated with Rosie The Riveter. I’ve always been a firm believer is equal rights for women and to me Rosie basically said that women can work and do just as good a job as men. That was huge for this time in our history. And how can you not love her slogan of “we can do it”. Hell, yeah we can! As for your other question, no doubt about it I love, love when my hubby takes control which he does a lot BUT I also love my time of being in control and I can tell you I don’t have any complaints from him when I do. 😉

Hello Lila, how is FB? I love how you have come up with the idea for this series…I love pin up girls, they are just so sexy. I know when we think Lucile Ball we think funny I Love Lucy but that woman was beautiful when they did her up for her close-ups. I do like for my dh to be a bit dominate but not a dominating jerk.Z

I love reading some of the BDSM stories, but seem to have issues with some as well – perhaps it has to do with the giving up of control or the lack of power. My main issue though is this master slave relationship and calling someone a slave and someone being a master.

I also think that Rita Hayworth and Dita von Teese both have their appeal. Sometimes Katy Perry also.

I love the pin up girl era. I love the look of the pin up girls as well as the every day dress of women during that time. Women were classy and sexy without baring all.

I enjoy BDSM romances, not as into the M/s or intense pain type. I do like the D/s and sensual pain. I am responsible for so much in my day to day life and at work, that I would love for a man to take control in the bedroom. No humiliation though.

Oh yes, I’m all for ceding control in certain areas of life 😉 As for role models from other eras, I do think there are lots of lovely examples including Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Rita Hayworth and so on to the pin-up girls like Bettie Page. It’s a matter of finding your personal style, right? Can’t wait to read this whole series, Lila!!

Where are the Rita Hayworths of today??I Love the Era of the Pin Up Girl, I think that’s when women where really “women”; so curvy, sexy, & volumpuous. I Love Pin Up Girls so much, i have 2 seperate tattoos of them on my body 😉 One tattoo girl has a BDSM theme about her & the other is a sexy, sensual pin up girl. I view them as the two sides of my personality 😉

I loved your post & enjoy reading BDSM Erotic Romances. Thank you for taking the time to share part of your busy day with Us. I LQQk forward to reading your Books.

Hi Lila,thank you for the chance at such a great giveaway. i love the cover of the books, their beautiful. i have always loved the pinup girls of the 40’s,50’s and 60’s. in fact i think that one of my favorites would be Audrey Hepburn but also Maureen O’Hara. both very different in looks but so beautiful.

in my favorite movie”The Quiet Man”John Wayne was very much an Alpha Male to Maureen O’Hara strong willed woman. i loved when she gave as good as she got and then some.

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